USF Millennium Reading Group

This examination of the “Millennium Series” is collaborative effort of the Women and Violence Research Group and the student-centered Gender and Sexuality Center at the University of San Francisco.
The USF Millennium Reading Group offers an opportunity for students, staff and faculty to explore the relationships between women and violence in a non-curricular activity.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

“Millennium Series” Reading Group Spring Events Calendar
Free and Open to the USF Community

*Final Meeting to Discuss the Third Book of the Series, *
The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (2007)
When: Tuesday, February 19th, from 11:40-12:40pm in UC412;

(Refreshments will be served)

* Film Screening and Discussion of, The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest *

Monday, November 12, 2012

We hope to all tomorrow for our second Millennium Series meeting of the academic year:
2nd meeting: Tuesday, November 13, from 12:30-1:30pm in UC412
Read up to page 200 if you can.
(Refreshments will be served at all events)
Join us as we continue our dialogue on how the topic of women and violence in the popular book and film relates to the USF community.
A few questions to ponder:
1) Each part of "Hornet’s Nest" begins with a brief history lesson about women warriors. What do these short excerpts say about Larsson's triligy? About his subject matter? About Salandar and Berger?
2) In each of the three novels there is a specific group or institution that is scrutinized for its corrupt and perverted ways. What is the focus in this novel? How do Larsson's critiques of different institutions build on one another?
3) In the first part of "Hornet's Nest" Salandar is imprisoned in her hospital room, her every movement controlled. How is this setting different than the settings of the other two novels?
4) Who is on Salandar's side in this novel?
Sponsored by The Women and Violence Research Group in collaboration with The Gender and Sexuality Center. For more information, please visit the Millennium Reading Blog:
readingmillennium.blogspot.com

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

I will post my notes at another time for today's first meeting of the academic year of the Millennium Series Reading Group.
Right now, before I forget, I want to mention a book that I heard about on NPR driving home today. It caught my attention for several reasons, one of which is its synopsis (see below).
The novel is: The Round House, By Louise Erdrich. It just came out (Oct. 2012).
In our meeting we talked a good deal about justice. Who defines justice? What does it look like? About how societal justice fails certain human beings. In the Millennium Series, the system and the family fail Lisbeth Salander. She takes it upon herself to define her own justice, and to bring others to the justice she understands.
The Round House has some similar themes:
"One Sunday in the spring of 1988, a woman living on a reservation in North Dakota is attacked. The details of the crime are slow to surface as Geraldine Coutts is traumatized and reluctant to relive or reveal what happened, either to the police or to her husband, Bazil, and thirteen-year-old son, Joe. In one day, Joe's life is irrevocably transformed. He tries to heal his mother, but she will not leave her bed and slips into an abyss of solitude. Increasingly alone, Joe finds himself thrust prematurely into an adult world for which he is ill prepared.
While his father, who is a tribal judge, endeavors to wrest justice from a situation that defies his efforts, Joe becomes frustrated with the official investigation and sets out with his trusted friends, Cappy, Zack, and Angus, to get some answers of his own. Their quest takes them first to the Round House, a sacred space and place of worship for the Ojibwe. And this is only the beginning.
Written with undeniable urgency, and illuminating the harsh realities of contemporary life in a community where Ojibwe and white live uneasily together, The Round House is a brilliant and entertaining novel, a masterpiece of literary fiction. Louise Erdrich embraces tragedy, the comic, a spirit world very much present in the lives of her all-too-human characters, and a tale of injustice that is, unfortunately, an authentic reflection of what happens in our own world today."
(http://www.amazon.com/Round-House-The-A-Novel/dp/0062065246)
Here is a story of generational trauma (Native American), territorial issues, sexual assault, and an individual attempt at finding justice by a 13 year old boy whose mother is attacked.
Could be interesting!
More to come...

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

There is a theme of men saving women in this book.Yet, these women are far from helpless.How does this theme relate to the book as a feminine text?

Lisbeth is framed by men who love her and hate her.What would it be like to have Lisbeth have female friendships?

What does Lisbeth’s breast surgery mean? Perhaps Lisbeth wanted to be taken more seriously; an effort to dispel her “childlike” persona.

Lisbeth commits all of these crimes yet has a strong moral compass.Is it justified or acceptable?

How does Lisbeth’s family influence her thoughts and behaviors?Her brother feels no pain yet has emotional distress.

Can we see Lisbeth as a contemporary hero?Despite all of the crime she has a hero-like persona.

Themes in book are strongly related to current contemporary issues in the news: the books syncs with current day issues.Do we have a place in society for people to take the law into their own hands when the system fails?

Decision to screen the Swedish version of “The Girl Who Played with Fire” in September 2012.Megan to set-up date/space, Ale to coordinate publicity, Shawn to coordinate panel, post-film discussion.

Thanks for a great year!Stay tuned to this blog for Fall 2012 Book Club information.